Run 7 SX GTR Shark Limited Edition guitars are currently in assembly. These guitars feature Mahogany bodies with Flame Maple veneers, Hammerhead Shark sound-holes and Shark inlays, in Bloodbath and Ocean Dream finishes. Check out the in-progress shots in the gallery below!

​These guitars are expected at Ormsby HQ in Western Australia not long before we leave for the NAMM Show (Booth 2841 if you'll be there and would like to say hello!), and Jett and Magnus are staying behind to keep on top of QC before these ship out.

We can't wait to get these guitars into your hands. If you have any general questions, the best way to get them answered quickly is to post them on our Facebook wall.

​Run 6 HypeGTR Multiscale guitars have arrived and are being set up and shipped right now (December 13). Some dealers already have theirs so there are plenty out there in the wild already. These guitars have single-piece Swamp Ash bodies and Flame Maple veneer tops, and are available in Dahlia Black, Natural, Purr Pull, Beto Blue and Sophia Blue finishes in 6, 7 and 8-string variants, with Nunchucker A8 bridge and De La Creme neck humbuckers. The 8-strings came with cases, but our shipment of cases for Run 6 was a little behind so we’re using spare cases that we ordered with Run 5 for 6 and 7-string guitars and sending out about 30 guitars a day. We also have Run 5 guitars in stock that we can steal cases from until our Run 6 case allocation arrives on December 30. This shouldn’t affect any preorders at all but you may wait a little longer if you buy a spare.

If you want to purchase a guitar direct from us to be delivered before Christmas, the cut off dates are:Aussies: Noon on Monday 17thInternational: Tuesday 18thVisit our Reverb.com store to see available stock.

The HypeGTR Floyd Richie Allan Signature models which are also a part of Run 6 are coming soon: these were placed at the end of the production run for logistics purposes related to the standard scale, the Floyd Rose routing and the extra work scalloping the last four frets (there's also a Multiscale 8-string version with a fixed bridge landing at the same time). They’ll be worth the wait though: these guitars have chambered Swamp Ash bodies with a Platinum Pearl White finish that has to be seen to be believed, offset with white binding with red pickups (Nunchucker A8 and Old School A2) and red fretboard dots. We’ll update this post when we have an exact delivery date from the factory, and we’ll be sure to post all about it on our social media too.

Here are the Run 6 colours on the day they arrived at Ormsby HQ: each of these finishes is available on 6, 7 and 8-string versions.

​It’s easy to see pickups as simply a magnet with a bunch of wire wrapped around it. That’s a pretty simple way of describing a very complex piece of equipment though; every element of the pickup has an affect on the ultimate sound, and the magnets in particular are a whole world unto themselves. The size and type of magnet you use in your pickup has a big influence on the sound that the pickup produces, as does the type of wire: how thick it is, how it’s insulated, how it’s wound around the bobbins, how many turns of wire. And different pole piece materials can also affect the pickup’s magnetic field in different ways. {You can see more about Ormsby pickup types here).

Let’s get to know pickup magnets better. We’ll start with Alnico, magnets an alloy made of iron, aluminium (Al), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co), as well as a little bit of copper (Cu). The three most common used Alnico variants are Alnico II, Alnico III and Alnico V, although Alnico VIII is growing in popularity, blending the power of a ceramic magnet with the fatness and detail of an Alnico. Here are the basic types:

Alnico IIAlnico II is commonly found in original PAF humbucking pickups, with a moderate coil wind, but it’s also a great hard rock humbucker when combined with hotter coils. The tone is relatively soft, clear and sweet with a rounding-off of the treble frequencies, but if you use a hotter coil wind it brings out a little bit of hairiness and great note separation in complex chords. We recommend Alnico II for our Old School humbucking model, and it’s ideal for the neck version of the De La Creme. You’ll also find it in the PVH (Perry’s Vintage Humbucker) model.

Alnico VAlnico V is the most common magnet when we think of rock pickups. The sound is usually hotter, edgier and ruder than Alnico II and III, and you’ll find that an Alnico V pickup will give you a great ‘wall of sound’ vibe where the individual notes of a chord blend together into a big slab of rock. They’re also a little warmer in the midrange which can make for great lead guitar tones. This is the perfect magnet for the De La Creme bridge model.

Alnico VIIIAlnico VIII is a big deal at Ormsby, powering many of our most popular pickups. It’s one of the least common magnet types elsewhere, but for us it offers the perfect blend of grit and precision; it sounds great in pickups like the Hot Rock and Nunchucker, situations where you really want some chunk and aggression like a ceramic pickup but also a little bit more warmth on lead tones like an Alnico V.

CeramicCeramic magnets usually sound more ‘modern,’ with a tighter low end, more ‘cut’ and higher output compared to Alnico magnets. They’re great for metal and shred, and they contribute a huge amount to the aggression of the Master Blaster and Katana models.

Alnico IIIDeceptively, Alnico III is weaker than Alnico II. It actually has no cobalt and the lowest magnetic pull. That makes it a great choice for neck pickups because it allows the string to ring out more cleanly. Its sound is a little more ‘confident’ compared to Alnico II, although both have a certain ‘softness.’ Many players like to balance an Alnico III neck pickup against an Alnico II in the bridge. Ormsby doesn’t currently offer Alnico III magnets as standard but you never know what we can do in the Custom Shop.

Ormsby artist Ando San Washington's band Incipience is about to hit the studio to record their new EP Vehement and they need your help! A Kickstarter campaign is underway to fund the project, which will be recorded at Robot Buffalo Studios at the start of December! Nick Morzov will be producing (he's also working with Chon and Animals As Leaders on their new records), and this one will feature live drums, so we're sure it's going to sound huge.

"This is going to be a very exciting for release for us and that the music will speak for itself," Ando says. "And we as a band really appreciate anybody that donates to our Kickstarter and we promise to put out awesome music for our fans and progressive metal fans."

There have been many times I’ve felt as though something, someone, has been looking over me as I build or repair an important instrument. The whole ﻿Randy Rhoads Tribute bass﻿ was an example (one day I’ll tell the stories - they literally freak some people out), but here’s one that happened back in 2013. I was doing some work on a vintage guitar; restoring, and relicing (paint touch ups, and cracking, aging, etc) it to its former glory. Unfortunately the owner passed away, and his wife wanted his guitar back the way it should be (it had some heavy mods that didn’t do it many favours). Everything had to be done to the highest level, and aged to suit the guitar.The bridge pickup was an aftermarket one, and the request was for me to find a replacement that better suited the guitar’s heritage. I found a few, ranging from $350-1200. All the wrong colour though. A friend needed some Sperzel tuners, and offered an ‘old pickup’ as a trade. It was the right one, so I let him know it would be going into this restoration, and everything was sweet.I couldnt believe my luck! I was putting the guitar back together and lo and behold, what do I see? The original owner’s handwriting on the baseplate, just like on the neck pickup. The pickup I sourced was from that guitar originally! What are the odds?? The original pickup, back with the original guitar it came from, after 45 years!I called spoken to the lady who contracted me to do the work on her hubby’s guitar, and she was in shock. This wasn’t the first time something like this had made her feel that her husband is looking over her. And just before I called her, she was listening to the radio. Someone requested a song of her husband's, the first song she ever heard him play.I love my job.

Ormsby Guitars’ Genesis multiscale delivers a new dawn on contemporary guitarsForging the beauty of timeless electric guitars with modern appointments

The Genesis is the Ormsby approach to the classic double-cut super shredder with the edge required for the 21st century. It features our new fretting system allowing for tremolos and any pickup combination to be used without compromise on a multiscale guitar. Exotic timbers and classic relic’d nitro finishes are just some of the options that can be paired with your choice of pickup arrangements using the custom pickguard system. With uncompromising classic style and modern features, the Genesis is made for every player from classic blues right through to the most technical of metal!The Ormsby Guitars Genesis is the next chapter in vintage modern guitars.

5 years since the inception of the coveted Hypemachine custom shop model, Ormsby Guitars is proud to present this unique set of hand-made Exhibition models for Winter NAMM 2018. Covering a range of materials and exotic finishes that are synonymous with Ormsby Guitars’ innovative approach to modern extended range guitars, these instruments pay tribute to the Hypemachine’s 5 years of head-turning looks and sound.

Pale Moon Ebony 6 string Multiscale

Handcrafted in the Australian Custom Shop, this Hypemachine represents a perfect pairing of exotic timbers for a striking appearance and tonal richness. Featuring a master grade pale moon ebony top, it is paired with a chambered swamp ash body for balanced weight relief and added acoustic resonance. The body is matched with a figured 1-piece ziricote neck and fretboard and set off with maple pin-striping. A deep access set-neck provides complete fret access across the 24 jumbo stainless steel fret multiscale fretboard. This is all completed with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups that are coil-tappable and matched with custom Hipshot USA hardware.

Handcrafted in the Australian Custom Shop and previously only reserved for a select batch of SX Limited customs, this Hypemachine features Ormsby Guitars’ unique ‘vase’ finish. Beginning with a high-grade flame maple top, careful staining techniques are applied to give the top its unique look. The top is paired with a chambered Tasmanian Blackwood body and quilt maple control plate covers. A 5-piece maple and walnut bolt-on neck provides effortless playing and stability, and flows with a ivoroid bound ziricote fretboard. This is all completed with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups that are coil-tappable and matched with custom Hipshot USA hardware.

Vase 7 string Multiscale

Copper Top 7 string Multiscale

Handcrafted in the Australian Custom Shop, Ormsby Guitars continues to show unique aged copper finishes matched with stunning tonewoods. Starting with a chambered mahogany body it is matched with a blue oxide copper top that needs to be seen and felt to be believed. This eye-catching body combination is paired with a blue pearloid bound 24 fret multiscale flame maple fretboard and 3-piece maple neck. For further ease of playing, Z-pattern stone shell dot inlays contrast with the stunning figure of the fretboard. This is all completed with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups that are coil-tappable and matched with custom Hipshot USA hardware.

Handcrafted in the Australian Custom Shop, Ormsby Guitars is proud to unveil an all new finish option in the form of a genuine stone top! Beginning with a favourite home-grown tonewood, a chambered Tasmanian blackwood body is paired with the textured stone top. Don’t let the idea of stone fool you though, this Hypemachine is one of the lightest weight options from our Winter NAMM 2018 Exhibition Series. This unique pairing of materials is matched with a bolt-on 5-piece mahogany and ebony neck, and ivoroid bound Australian native wood, Gidgee 24 fret multiscale fretboard. This is all completed with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups that are coil-tappable and matched with custom Hipshot USA hardware.

Stone 7 string Multiscale

Black Limba 6 string Multiscale

Handcrafted in the Australian Custom Shop, this Hypemachine utilises a longstanding favourite body wood, black limba at its core, adored for its similarities in tonal qualities to that of the highly coveted Brazilian mahogany. It is paired with a deep access set-neck made from black limba as well. A 24 fret ziricote multiscale fretboard bound in ivoroid provides players with an understated and tonally rich playing experience. This is all completed with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups that are coil-tappable and matched with custom Hipshot USA hardware.

Handcrafted in the Australian Custom Shop, this stunning Hypemachine features a unique 1-piece maple burl top chosen specifically for its figure and angled to suit the aesthetics of the multiscale fret layout. The top is paired with a chambered mahogany body for balanced weight relief and acoustic resonance. A highly figured bolt-on 3-piece maple neck compliments the body wood combinations and is matched with an ivoroid bound snakewood fretboard. This is all completed with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups that are coil-tappable and matched with custom Hipshot USA hardware.

Maple Burl 6 string Multiscale

Spalt Maple 7 string Multiscale

Handcrafted in the Australian Custom Shop and rounding up the exotic 1-piece options in our Exhibition Series is a figured spalt maple bodied Hypemachine. Carefully selected for stability as well as its striking looks, this body wood is paired with a natural 5-piece wenge and flame maple neck and an ivoroid bound Macassar ebony fretboard. Complimenting these wood choices are custom quilt maple backplates and Z-pattern fretboard inlays for ease of playing. This is all completed with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups that are coil-tappable and matched with custom Hipshot USA hardware.

Handcrafted in the Australian Custom Shop, a select cut from Ormsby’s global wood library of figured Spanish cedar is at the core of this Hypemachine’s body and tonality. An oiled 7-piece Indian rosewood, Australian sheaok, and padouk neck with deep access provides effortless playing and stability and is matched to an ivoroid bound ebony fretboard with mother of pearl Z-pattern inlays. This is all completed with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups that are coil-tappable and matched with custom Hipshot USA hardware.

Ormsby Guitars channels the middle ages and death through a truly unique 6 string multiscale guitar.Modern luthiery forges with artistic inspiration from the past

Inspired by great artistic works of the late middle ages, the custom made SX Dance of Death 2 revives ancient wood carving techniques in a modern multiscale instrument.Further inspiration is derived from the great cathedrals of the world with a unique stained-glass effect over the laser-etched flame maple top, which has then been sealed, aged and cracked in nitrocellulose. Designed to focus your playing down to the bare essentials with a single Ormsby custom pickup and Hipshot USA hardware, this guitar will take your playing beyond this lifetime.

After a massive reception from its launch at Winter NAMM 2017, the Futura custom shop is back. Focusing on some of the Ormsby team’s favourite tonewoods this multiscale 6 string is made with a swamp ash body and black limba top. A 5-piece black limba and Tasmanian blackwood bolt-on neck paired with an ebony fretboard completes the tonewood configuration of this Futura. As with all our custom shop instruments at NAMM, hand wound Ormsby pickups provide the player with a wide variety of tonal options.

10 years after the original SX 8 string multiscale, the legend lives on.A tribute to the decade of multiscale at Ormsby Guitars

As part of Ormsby Guitars’ celebrations for ‘A Decade of Multiscale’ this sterling piece was created in the Australian custom shop, paying tribute to the original SX8 Multiscale from 2008.Featuring a full-thickness figured maple top in purple berry finish, we went all-out and matched it with a purple pearl finish over the chambered Tasmanian blackwood body. A 1-piece figured maple neck with deep access contour provides unhindered fret access to all 29 stainless steel frets. An ivoroid bound ebony fretboard with Z-pattern abalone inlays completes the tonewoods on this custom along with custom hand wound Ormsby pickups.Be sure to keep an eye out as we ramp up our celebrations with A Decade of Multiscale.